Nov 6 2011

Accident horror in England! 27 cars were damaged on the freeway! 7 dead and 51 wounded!

Emergency crews scoured burnt-out vehicles on Sunday. Emergency services said 51 people had been injured in the accident that happened late Friday and warned the death toll was likely to rise.

Investigators meanwhile stepped up efforts to determine the cause of the crash, indicating that as well as the wet and foggy conditions, a nearby fireworks display might have played a role in causing the pile-up.

The huge crash sparked explosions and an inferno, reducing vehicles to cinders and leaving twisted, fire-blackened metal scattered across the carriageway.

Footage taken at the scene showed motorists risking their own lives amid the flames to prise open vehicle doors and rescue people trapped inside.

Witnesses described hellish scenes, with multiple explosions and towering flames sending a pall of acrid smoke into the night sky.

“We could hear people screaming in their cars. It was utter carnage,” said motorist Thomas Hamell, 25, who narrowly avoided the chaos as he came to an abrupt halt next to a jack-knifed lorry at the edge of the crash site.

“We sat there and heard the thud of cars, one after another, hitting each other and thought we would be next.”

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary told reporters: “Sadly I can now confirm that we believe we’ve had at least seven people die as a result of this incident.

“I am also able to confirm that we’ve got 51 casualties. Many of those have gone to hospital.”

He said 34 vehicles were involved in the accident on Friday evening, “many of which are burnt — and burnt literally to the ground.”

Detectives would be examining the possible factors involved, including the darkness, fog and groundwater, plus the fireworks display, he said.

Source: Emirates247